Mercury Montego: Spy Report

Here's a mild facelift if we've ever seen one: the 2008 Mercury Montego. Only slightly disguised by the leopard-pattern paint job, the new car appears to offer changes only in the front clip—grille, enders, hood, headlights—and taillights. Mercury obviously wants you to recognize its trademarks—the vertical grille bars and the bat-ear shape to the headlights. Also new are the multi-spoke wheels. Note the lack of special paint on the doors and roof. That signals no change, just a simple facelift and rump tuck for the new model. Look for more power from a bigger V6 engine to lead the new features Ford will tout for this Five Hundred cousin. —Jim Dunne